What happened to the narrator’s “double- conscience”? How are the narrator’s actions related to paper (recommendation letters)? What is Dr. Bledsoe’s motif?
Up until chapter nine, the narrator was very aware of his “double conscience” in society and in dealing with people himself.This was very apparent when he served as Mr. Norton’s driver, despite Bledsoe’s disapproval on how he handled the situation.However, upon meeting Mr. Emerson’s son, this all changes. Before, he was under the assumption that Dr. Bledsoe, despite having him expelled, was someone he could trust and rely on. It might also be inferred that the narrator had come to see Bledsoe as a father figure, due to the nature of the way that the narrator handles being expelled- first with yelling, and then with an accepting, almost apologetic tone easily permeable to punishment. Further, he was so sure of Dr. Bledsoe that he wanted to return to the college and assist him after finishing his education-similar to the role of a tentative son. However, after seeing what Bledsoe wrote on his recommendation letters, the narrator begins to lose some of his “double-consciousness” towards his own race, as Bledsoe, like a white man (as depicted by Rudyard Kipling’s “White Man’s Burden”), feels almost burdened by the narrator. Dr. Bledsoe also seems ashamed of the narrators actions, in what seems like an attempt to maintain his position of power-his life’s winnings. Despite having read the letters himself at the request of Mr. Emerson’s son, the narrator begins to show a lot of doubt towards Bledsoe, as well as Emerson’s son- although, he still maintains hope for Mr. Emerson himself, regardless of his son’s warnings. This lack of trust is further emphasized when the narrator refuses a job and party invitation from Emerson’s son; who at this point, seems to be the only person the narrator should trust; as he has been completely honest with the best of intent: as opposed to his father, who may in some way represent hope for new start to the narrator, but will probably not have as much empathy or even opportunity for him as promised.
Regarding the narrator’s motifs, he continues to be motivated by paper. The first event driven by such, was the scholarship to college he received after giving a short speech at the end of battle royale, in contempt of having been treated so brutally he is still coughing up blood during the speech . The second time was when he received multiple recommendation letters (7) from Dr. Bledsoe after having been kicked out of school; which led him to pursue his journey in New York. It is here that Dr. Bledsoe’s motifs are re-innervated; concerning his selfishness and need for power-even at the expense and hardships of others. In both cases, the paper is presented at the end of a struggle, suggesting that it may be symbolic(the whiteness of the paper alludes to purity; specifically pure of heart. It may also refer to death, of an old life, and the beginning of a new one) to the narrator’s ambitions and delicate balance of mind, as paper is easily destroyed.